26th September, 2023:
“Subah likhti hu sham likhti hu iss char diwari mai baithke tera naam likhti hu” - these words of a poem imprinted on the outer wall of Tihar jail was celebrated in women’s jail today on the occasion of the completion of the iconic journey of Tinka Tinka Tihar. The poem written by Seema Raghuvanshi, incarcerated in Tihar, was featured in the popular book Tinka Tinka Tihar, edited by Vartika Nanda (media educator and prison reformer) and Vimla Mehra (IPS) and then DG, Delhi Prisons in 2013.
After a gap of 10 years, Tinka Tinka Tihar is republished by Tinka Tinka Foundation, showcasing the literary acumen of women inmates lodged in jail number 6 of Tihar. Tinka Tinka Tihar is a long journey comprising of a book, theme song and a long wall painting on the outer walls of jails. The book was released by the Union Minister of Home Affairs at the APCCA Conference in New Delhi in 2013. This book has been translated into 6 languages and is considered to be an authentic version of prison life. The wall outside Tihar Jail is inspired by a poem composed by an inmate, Seema Raghuvanshi, published in the same book. This wall was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in 2014. The song was released by Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker, Lok Sabha. Both the book and the song earned a place in the Limca Book of Records for their originality. A special mention of Tinka Tinka Tihar was made in Prison Statistics India in 2015. On the completion of 10 years of this creativity, Tihar jail officers and staff came together to celebrate its success and brainstormed a future plan of taking Tinka Tinka Tihar to the next level. Second edition of the book was released by Shri Sanjay Baniwal, Director General, (Prisons), Ms.. Vimla Mehra, (IPS) former Director General of Tihar Jail, Shri H.P.S. Saran, Additional Inspector General (Prisons) and Jail Superintendent Krishna Sharma in a gala event in the women’s jail of Tihar on 26th September, 2023.
Special attraction was an inmate, who had contributed to the book as a poet in 2013, reciting her poems to the audience. She has been incarcerated for nearly 12 years. Jail Superintendent Krishna Sharma and her team showcased a special exhibition with innovative expressions of women inmates on the theme of Tinka Tinka Tihar depicting the 10 year journey from 2013 to 20123. Inmates also relived the experience through a play. The song- Tinka Tinka Tihar- was also sung by them.
Background:
Tinka Tinka Tihar: Initiated in the Tihar prison complex, it involved writing of a book, production of a music video and painting of the outer wall of jail, which turned out as the longest mural painting in India. Released in 2013, the book Tinka Tinka Tihar presents a collection of poems written by women inmates of Tihar. It was co-edited by Vartika Nanda and Vimla Mehra (IPS), Director General, Delhi Prisons.
24 September, 2013: The book was released by the Union Minister of Home Affairs at the APCCA Conference, New Delhi in September, 2013.
2015: The book eventually earned its place in the Limca Book of Records for its originality. This book works as a research window on the realities of prison life.
2014: The outer wall of Tihar prison complex is inspired by a poem composed by an inmate, Seema Raghuvanshi, for the book Tinka Tinka Tihar. This wall was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in 2014.
2015: The musical video Tinka Tinka Tihar, was released by Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker, Lok Sabha. This was produced by Lok Sabha TV. This musical creation found mention in the Limca Book of Records in 2017.
This work has been done between the time period of 2013 to 2023 and it still continues.
BOOK: TINKA TINKA TIHAR: Release of the book
( Editors: Vartika Nanda & Vimla Mehra, IPS, DG, Delhi Prisons)
Co-edited by Vartika Nanda and Vimla Mehra, the book titled- Tinka Tinka Tihar, is the first of its kind, featuring collection of poems written by selected women inmates of the Tihar prison complex. This book is a collection of the poetic expressions of the women who may have been physically restricted in the prison, but have free minds. It makes a unique effort to give a creative platform to incarcerated women. These poems were written by four female inmates during their stay in jail number 6.
24 September, 2013: The book, Tinka Tinka Tihar (both in Hindi and in English), was released by the Union Minister of Home Affairs, Government of India, at the International 33rd Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators ( APCCA) on 24 September, 2013 in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This international conference was hosted by India for the first time.
26 September, 2024: Second edition of the book released: Tihar Jail number 6: On the completion of 10 years, Tihar jail officers and staff came together to celebrate its success and brainstormed a future plan of taking Tinka Tinka Tihar to the next level. This book was released by Shri Sanjay Baniwal, Director General, (Prisons), Mrs. Vimla Mehra, (IPS) Retd. the then Director General of Tihar Jail Shri H.P.S. Saran, Additional Inspector General (Prisons) and Dr. Vartika Nanda in a gala event in the women’s jail of Tihar. Special attraction was an inmate, who had contributed to the book as a poet in 2013, reciting her poems to the audience. She has been incarcerated for nearly 12 years.
Link: www.tinkatinka.org
Selected posters on the book:
The above poster is designed by Samiksha Manaktala, S.Keerthana
and Priyanka Gupta, students of Department of Journalism, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, during their summer vacation.
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